Friday, May 11, 2012

Striped Bass Stock in Decline!

The striped bass season is well underway. I have received reports of fish over the 30 " mark. As predicted the big fish should arrive early this season. The last week in May and first week in June should be the time to target fish in the 50 " range. It is hard to say but the season should also end early. July should be very quiet with stripers in the 10 lb + range hard to find on the fly. So get on it when you can and please practice catch and release! The stocks are down an alarming rate. Here is a study conducted up in Mass. Why does history have to repeat itself?!

Decrease from 2006 to 2011 is 6,802,000 fish, a decrease of 83.7%

Decrease from 2010 to 2011 was 690,000 fish, a decrease of 34%

Official NOAA Recreational Catch Statistics for MA

Attachments:

The attached document taken directly from the NOAA - parent of National Marine Fishery Service - website chronicles the decline in the recreational catch of striped bass in Massachusetts from its high in 2006 until the end of 2011. The decline of 84% is absolutely alarming, and there are no good year classes coming along to reinforce the population of breeding sized fish for at least another 7 or 8 years. Clearly we need to act now to conserve the large fish left in the population.

Stripers Forever's MA game fish bill will be heard in committee on Feb. 28. For more information go back to the home page of this website and find the article under recent news on the right side. We urge all SF members to e-mail the members of the Joint Environment Committee that will hear this bill. Here is a LINK to their website. Tell them that striped bass are important to you, that the fish are in trouble, and that we must stop commercially fishing for them and manage them with a greater conservation ethic. Please, do it now, and get all of your fishing friends to do the same thing.

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About Me

The Western Long Island Sound is my church and my playground. I have been fishing for as long as I can remember and at the age of 12 I received my boaters license, a 13' whaler, and the rest is history. Fishing to me has always been not a lifestyle but a way of life. Growing up a stones thrown away from my boat in the long island sound I was fortunate enough to have the luxury and privilege to operate a boat from such a young age. Spending more time on the water then on land I naturally began to consistently stalk and anticipate where the fish will be on the days given conditions. I have traveled all around the world fishing and still am amazed at how world class the western long island sound can get just a 45 minute drive from New York City.